As India accelerates its shift to digital public services, the central government has issued an important advisory for vehicle owners and driving licence holders across the country. Citizens have been urged to update their registered mobile numbers on the Vahan and Sarathi portals to avoid service disruptions.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has called on all vehicle owners, driving licence holders, and applicants to immediately verify and update their mobile details on the official platforms. The move is aimed at ensuring smooth access to online services such as vehicle registration, renewals, ownership transfer, licence applications, and permit-related processes.
With transport services increasingly delivered online under the Digital India initiative, accurate contact information has become critical. Officials noted that many users still have mobile numbers registered years ago, which may no longer be active. This often leads to failed OTP authentication, missed alerts, and delays in processing applications, creating inconvenience for millions of users.
The ministry stressed that updating mobile numbers will improve the security and reliability of the national transport database. It will also help users receive timely alerts on licence or registration expiry, traffic challans, penalties, and regulatory updates.
Why updating your mobile number matters
The registered mobile number serves as the main identifier for OTP-based authentication and official communication on both Vahan, which handles vehicle-related services, and Sarathi, which manages driving licence services.
An outdated number can prevent users from logging in, completing transactions, or receiving important notifications. Keeping details current ensures smoother integration with other government systems, improves data accuracy across states, and speeds up grievance resolution. The advisory applies to owners of cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles, and 2-wheelers, including motorcycles and scooters.
How to update your mobile number
For vehicle owners on the Vahan portal:
- Visit vahan.parivahan.gov.in
- Select “Update Mobile Number”
- Enter vehicle registration number and chassis number (last 5 digits)
- Add the new mobile number
- Verify via OTP sent to the new number
- Submit and save the acknowledgement
For driving licence holders on the Sarathi portal
- Go to sarathi.parivahan.gov.in
- Choose your state and select the update service
- Enter driving licence number, date of birth, and required details
- Enter the new mobile number
- Complete OTP verification
- Submit and download the confirmation receipt
Users are advised to keep their registration certificate or licence handy and ensure access to the new mobile number during the process. The ministry has encouraged citizens to complete this quick update at the earliest to avoid future issues and benefit fully from India’s digital transport services.
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